William Hague is to consider reversing the forced deportation of more than 1,000 islanders who were removed from a British colony to make way for a US military base.

The Foreign Secretary’s surprise announcement came yesterday after the Chagos people lost their claim at the European Court of Human Rights that they had suffered inhuman and degrading treatment. The islanders were cleared out in the 1960s and 1970s so that the United States could create the airbase of Diego Garcia.

“We have made clear our regret for the wrongs done to the Chagossian people over 40 years ago,” Mr Hague